About Us

Forthcoming Elections

The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia

Published 17th May, 2011

The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM was founded in 1991 as the successor party to the League of Communists of Macedonia (SKM) which had been the governing party during the Tito years of Yugoslavia. In 1989 the SKM changed its name to the SKM – PDP or Party of Democratic Change.

In their first electoral challenge in 1990 they came second with 31 seats. Following the fall of the so called ‘government of experts’ they formed a coalition government which lasted from 1992 to 2008.

It lost power in 1998, but won again in 2002 when its coalition of parties, ‘Together for Macedonia’ won 43 seats. With the help of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Democratic union for Integration they formed a coalition government.

They lost again in 2006 and again in 2008 and remain the main opposition party.

Although its roots are in communism, the SDSM has moved over the years and now describes itself as a centre left, social democratic, third way party.

The SDSM is a full member of Socialist International and an associate member of the party of European Socialists.